Yellowknife (Oct 08/03) - Twelve students are doing something no one else North of 60 is doing. They're learning how to become aircraft maintenance engineers.

The Buffalo School of Aviation opened its doors to a new class on Sept. 4 after Transport Canada re-certified it in April.

"They just changed the criteria for the program. They changed the way the programs were taught so the manuals had to be changed. We also had to change the way we do testing," said Kelsey Ball, who is in charge of quality assurance with the school.

The 18-month program is divided between classwork and hands-on experience.

This is the third class since the school opened in 1999.

Ball said the school may introduce a warehouse training program in the near future.

"That course has never been offered before.

We have the school and we know there is a demand for qualified storesmen here," said Ball.

"There is also a demand for other positions. We want people to be able to choose something other than being a pilot or maintenance engineer," said Ball.